Readers' tips ... American motels

Friday 1 May 2009 19.01 EDT
First published on Friday 1 May 2009 19.01 EDT

Winning tip: Wigwam Motel, San Bernardino CA

Route 66 conjures up open roads and roadside diners, but in San Bernardino it's all dollar stores and bail bond businesses. Yet in the midst of this run-down neighbourhood is the Wigwam motel, an encampment of concrete tipis, built in 1949. There is something truly amazing about your first glimpse of the green field full of 30-foot tipis, encircling a swimming pool and barbecue area, rather than a campfire. Our double room was large enough for a sofa and TV area, as well as a bed. This is a motel out of time and out of place - look out for the 'Do It In a Teepee!' sign at the back of the site.mouserat

New York

Memory Bar & Motel, Montauk

Even though Montauk is part of the stylish (and absurdly expensive) Hamptons, the town is more Campbell's dry goods than Calvin Klein. Montauk is full of retro motels - 1950s mock-Tudor and Polynesian designs with whimsical names like Daunt's Albatross and Kenny's Tipperary. But the most famous is the Memory Motel, immortalised by Rolling Stones on their 1976 album, Black and Blue. The Stones often visited resident Andy Warhol and hang out at the bar. The Memory was the only place around with a pool table and a piano. It seems that the owners weren't pleased; they hated the Stones! Still a little seedy, the Memory is only a block from the beach and diners and a pizza place are a short walk away. Fans regularly pay homage, and it's not unusual to spot a stretch limo parked in front. tucsontilly

California

Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo

The Madonna Inn is on Route, 1 the spectacular Californian coastal highway, is the most unusual wacky motel we found on it - and perhaps anywhere else in America. It has amazing themed rooms that have to be seen to be believed and which are not sparing on detail, public toilets that are like waterfalls and staff who are dressed as if they have escaped from a Disney cartoon. The food in the restaurant is equally over the top and fantastic, and the next day you can travel up to Hearst Castle for more surreal experiences. If Salvador Dali had run a motel, the Madonna Inn would have been it! callens17

•madonnainn.com, +805 543 3000, doubles from $179 including use of all facilitities.

Texas

Austin Motel, Austin

The Austin Motel has quirky themed rooms. We stayed in the Mexican Room with kitsch cactus plants and colourful walls. It's a fabulous location so once you park up you can walk to most places - ideal as Austin has a great bar scene with live music on every night. It has a 50s-style kidney-shaped pool to cool down in if you are there in the summer. For breakfast I recommend El Sol y La Luna (elsolylalunaaustin.com) tinav1

+512 441 1157, austinmotel.com, doubles from $80.

Kentucky

Wigwam Village Inn #2, Cave City

Cute little motel tipis, built in 1937, in the middle of Kentucky. I always remember seeing this place as a kid and thinking it was the most amazing place. It's near Cave City, home of Mammoth Cave, which is a quirky and kitschy place all in itself. The Wigwam Village is a unique bit of Kentucky history. Apparently, there are only three motels like this still standing in the US.jennymarie